Comber nipper feed system



Sept. 10, 1968 W. B. STRZELEWlCZ, JR

COMBER NIPPER FEED SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27, 1967 I N VEN TOR WILLIAM B. STRZELEWICLJR his A TTORNE'YS P 1968 w. B. STRZELEWICZ, JR 3,400,431

COMBER NIPPER-FEED SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1967 INVEN'I'UR.

WILLIAM B. STR'ZELEWICZJR. BY

MYMW

his ATTORNEYS Se t. 10,1968 w. a. STRZELEWICZ, JR 3,400,431

COMBER NIPPER FEED SYSTEM Filed Jan. 27, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

WILLIAM B. STRZELEWICZ, JR.

his ATTORNEYS w. B. STRZELEWICZ, JR 3,400,431

Sept. 10, 1968 COMBER NIPPER FEED SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 27, 1967 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM B. STRZELEWICZ, JR.

his ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,400,431 COMBER NIPPER FEED SYSTEM William B. Strzelewicz, Jr., Webster, Mass., assignor to Whitin Machine Works, Whitinsville, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 612,266 3 Claims. (Cl. 19-225) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a feed system for fiber combing machines having a reciprocating nipper frame, a nipper knife for gripping a web of fibers, a feed roller for feeding the web by lap form to the knife, and a drive mechanism for rotating the lap-feed roller to advance a web to the nipper knife in both directions of reciprocation of the nipper frame.

The present invention relates in general to fiber combing machines and, more particularly, to cotton combing machines operating on the principles of the well-known Heilmann comber.

In machines designed for combing fibers using the Heilmann principle, that is to say, in the class of combing machines which comb tuft by tuft, the cotton lap in prior machines has been fed to the nippers during only one segment of the nipper frame cycle, the feeding being done on either the forward or the backward motion of the nipper frame. Feeding on the forward motion of the nipper frame required the top comb to do more combing than the rotary half-lap comb, while the opposite was true if the feeding was done on the backward motion of the nipper frame. Prior attempts to increase the production rate of Heilmann combers have included increasing the length of lap fed to the nippers during each feeding segment of the nipper frame cycle and increasing the number of cycles of the nipper frame per unit of time. The former was unsatisfactory because it produced a lower quality fleece and the latter was unsuccessful because of mechanical limitations.

In accordance with the present invention, a forward and reverse comber, nipper feed mechanism is provided which feeds the lap to the nippers on both the forward and backward motions of the nipper frame cycle. Feeding on both the forward and backward motions of the nipper frame permits the combing machine to increase its production rate, per nipper frame, up to twice its previous amount, with no sacrifice in quality.

More particularly, in accordance with the present invention, the comber nipper feed mechanism includes a nipper frame to which the cushion plate is attached and on which the nipper knife is mounted, a feed roll which cooperates with the cushion plate to feed the lap to the nippers, a rotary comb which combs the nipper fringe on the backward stroke of the nipper cycle, and a top comb which combs the fibers on the forward stroke of the nipper frame cycle. A pair of detaching rolls seize the front ends of the fibers delivered by the nipper frame, and by their forward motion separate the tuft from the lap held by the feed roll. In their backward motion, the detaching rolls reverse a portion of the fibers in position to be overlapped by the next arriving tuft. A one-way clutch and housing is attached to each end of the feed roll; the first clutch being designed to rotate in lock direction and thus feed the lap to the nippers on the forward motion of the nipper frame, while the second clutch is designed to rotate in lock direction feeding lap to the nippers on the backward motion of the nipper frame. A pair of adjustable links connects one end of each clutch housing to a fixed pivot located in the arms which carry the nipper knife.

On the forward motion of the nipper frame the arms which carry the nipper knife and links pivot upwardly opening the knife and turning the two clutch housings in one direction. This turning movement of the clutch housings rotates the first one-way clutch in lock direction driving the feed roll to feed the lap to the nippers while the second one-way clutch located at the opposite end of the feed roll rotates in slip direction.

When the nipper frame reverses direction to begin its backward motion, the downward motion of the arms forces the nipper knife to close and turn the clutches in the opposite direction, rotating the first one way clutch in slip direction and the second one way clutch in lock direction, driving the feed roll to feed a length of lap equal to that fed on the forward motion of the nipper frame.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view through a portion of one of the combing heads;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the nipper frame and cushion plate with the forward and reverse feed mechanisms attached;

FIGS. 3A-3D are paired schematic drawings of the opposite ends of the combing head of FIGURE 2 illustrating the successive positions assumed by the forward and reverse feed mechanisms during the forward motion of the nipper frame cycle; and

FIGS. 3E-3H are paired schematic drawings of the opposite ends of the combing head of FIGURE 2 illustrating the successive positions assumed by the forward and reverse feed mechanisms during the backward motion of the nipper frame cycle.

A typical combing head, as shown in FIG. 1, includes the nipper frame 2 to which the cushion plate 4 is attached, and on which the nipper knife 6 is pivotally mounted. This frame is carried by two front-suspension links 8 pivoted at a high level on the frame uprights almost directly over the rotary half-lap comb 10. The frame 2 is pivotally supported in the lower ends of these from links by the pivot studs 12 projecting from the sidewalls of the nipper frame. The rear portion of the nipper frame 2 is pivotally connected and thereby supported in the lower ends of a pair of crank arms 14 depending downwardly from a rock shaft 16 and substantially parallel with the front links 8. The rocking movement of the rock shaft 16, or nipper Wag shaft as it is sometimes called, gives the nipper fr-alme its oscillation toward and from the detarcting mechanism 18. The nipper knife 6 is carried in two arms 20 and 22 which are pivoted to the nipper frame on the inside of the sidewalls thereof at the point [marked 24. The knife is opened and closed by the swinging movement of the frame by means of two knife actuator studs 26 and 28 which are carried in the front end of the arms 20 and 22. These actuating studs each engage a relatively fixed cam track member 30 and 31 mounted on the frame upright. The cam tracks in these members are designed or shaped so that the forward swing of the nipper frame 2 cams the nipper knife 6 to open position and the backward swing closes it nipping the lap against the cushion plate.

A roll of cotton lap to be combed (not shown) is supported on two creel rollers 32 and 34 which are appropriately driven so as to unwind the lap and deliver it over the lap plate 36 to the nipper feed roll 38. By the feed roll 38 the lap is delivered to the nipper jaws 4 and 6 of which the lower jaw or cushion plate 4 is fixed on the nipper frame 2. The upper jaw or nipper knife 6 is operated to open and receive the lap fed by the roll 38 and then close upon it and nip it firmly, holding the projecting end thereof in the path of the comb teeth 40 on the rotary half lap comb whereby the forward ends of the lap fi bcrs are combed. After the forward ends have been combed, the nipper jaws 4 and6 moving forwardly deliver the terminal tuft of the combed fibers to the detaching mechanism 18, opening at the same time so that the tuft may be drawn away from the body of the lap.

The detaching mechanism 18 includes a pair of back rollers 42 and 44 which seize the front ends of the fibers delivered by the nipper jaws 4 and 6 and by their forward rotation separate the tuft from the lap still held by the feed roll 38 and pull it through the teeth of a top comb 46 which has been lowered for that purpose. By such top combing, the tail ends of the fibers constituting the tuft are also combed. The detaching rolls 42 and 44 receive the front end of the tuft on the top of the tail end of the preceding tuft, with an appropriate overlap, thus piecing the tufts together to form a continuous fleece. For this purpose the rolls are given an alternate forward and backward rotation. In their forward motion they detach the tuft and in their backward motion they expose a considerable length of the fibers in position to be overlapped by the next arriving tuft. It will be appreciated that the elements of the combining machine and their function and mode of operation, as thus far described, are conventional.

Referring now to the constructions constituting the invention, the combination forward and reverse feed mechanism, more clearly shown in FIG. 2, comprises a first and second one-way clutch and clutch housing 50 and 52 respectively attached to each end of the feed roll 38. A pair of turnbuckle links 54 and 56 provided for adjustment connect one end of each of the clutch housings to fixed pivot points, 58 and 60 respectively, located in the arms 20 and 22 which carry the upper nipper jaw 6.

As noted above, FIGS. 3A to 3D and SE to 3H show in paired schematic form the principal positions of the feed mechanisms located at each end of the feed roll during the forward and backward motions of the nipper frame cycle. In FIGURE 3A, the combing of the end of a tuft issuing from the closed nipper jaws 4 and 6 has just taken place. As the nipper frame 2 starts to move forwandly toward the detaching mechanism 18 (FIG. 3B), the rolls 42 and 44 begin a backward rotation reversing a portion of the rear ends of the fibers recently combed by the rotary half-lap comb 10 into a position to be overlapped by the next arriving tuft. The forward swing of the nipper frame 2 cams the actuating studs 26 and 28 carried in the front end of the arms 20 and 22 along the cam track members 30 and 31. This camming movement causes the arms to pivot upwardly opening the nipper knife (FIG. 3C). The upward movement of the arms, 20 and 22 in turn, causes the turnbuckle links 54 and 56 to pull the arms 62 and 64 on the clutch housings 50 and 52 upwardly. The upward pull on the arms on the clutch housings rotates the first or forward feed clutch 52 in lock direction driving the feed roll 38 to feed the lap to the nipper jaws 4 and 6. The upward pull on the arm 62 on the clutch housing of the second or reverse feed clutch 50 causes it to rotate in slip direction (FIG. 3C). The detaching rolls 42 and' 44 now revolve for- Wardly to draw the fibers through the top comb 46. During movement to the maximum forward stroke position of the nipper frame (FIGS. 3B-3D), the forward feed clutch 52 continues to rotate in lock direction while the reverse feed clutch 50 continues to rotate in slip direction.

When the nipper frame 2 reverses direction and begins to move away from the detaching mechanism 18 (FIG. 3B), the backward swing of the nipper frame moves the actuating studs 26 and 28 along the cam track members 30 and 31 camming the arms 20 and 22 downwardly to close the knife 6. The downward movement of the arms forces the turnbuckle links 54 and 56 to push downwardly on the arms 62 and 64 on the clutch housings 50 and 52. The downward push on the arms on the clutch housings rotates the first or forward feed clutch 52 in slip direction and the second or reverse feed clutch 50 lock position driving the feed roll 38 to feed the lap to the nippers (FIG. 3F). During movement to the maximum backward stroke position of the nipper frame (FIGS. 3E to 3G) the detaching rolls revolve forwardly and the reverse feed clutch 50 continues to rotate in lock direction while the forward feed clutch 52 continues to rotate in slip direction. At the maximum backward stroke position the detaching rolls 42 and 44 continue to revolve forwardly 16 and the rotary half-lap comb 10 begins to comb the nipper fringe. When the combing is completed, the nipper frame begins to move forwardly and the operation is repeated in the manner above described.

Many other variations and modifications of the feed mechanism are possible and accordingly, the form of the invention described herein should be considered illustrative.

I claim:

1. In a comber having a forward and backward swinging nipper frame carrying a cushion plate and lap-feed roll, a nipper knife, two arms pivotally connected to said nipper frame for supporting said knife and actuating studs which actuate said knife as said nipper frame is swung in alternatively forward and backward directions; the combination of a first drive means connected to one end of said feed-lap roll for advancing a lap to said nipper knife on said forward motion of said nipper frame, second drive means connected to the opposite end of said lap-feed roll for driving said feed-lap roll to advance said lap to said nipper knife on said backward motion of said nipper frame, and means connected to said nipper frame and movable therewith for actuating said first drive means on said forward motion of nipper frame and said second drive means on said backward motion of said nipper frame.

2. The comber according to claim 1, wherein said means connected to said nipper frame comprises a pair of adjustable links, one of said adjustable links connecting said first drive means to a fixed pivot point located in one of said arms which carry said nipper knife and the other of said adjustable links connecting said second drive means to a fixed pivot point located in the other of said arms which carry said nipper knife.

3. The comber according to claim 1, wherein said first drive means comprises a one-way clutch, said clutch being constructed and arranged to rotate said feed roll in one direction during said forward motion of said nipper frame and slip relative to said roll during said backward motion of said nipper frame and wherein said second drive means comprises a one-way clutch, said clutch being constructed and arranged to slip relative to said roll during said forward motion of said nipper frame and to a drive said roll in said one direction during said backward motion of said nipper frame.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 8/1960 Great Britain. 8/ 1963 Great Britain. 

